Author Archives: Pastor Ken Frantz

A regular interaction with my life partner has been encouraging one another to find the best in each day, no matter the circumstances.  It usually occurs in the form of a question, “What was something new that you discovered today?” or “What was the best part of the day for you?”  It is sometimes hard to comeContinue reading “Petrified But New”

Summer gardens are in their prime.  In our case that means lots of yellows to contrast with the raucous carefree colors of potted petunias and other mainstay annuals that help balance our mature garden.  Mornings are a time of exploration for our animals as they relish the cool dawn hours before the heat sets in.  In particular thereContinue reading “Faith in the Summer Garden”

In recent conversations with a sibling, we both paused to admire the full moon as it rose in a glory of deep orange bordering on red. A true harvest moon. It was worth it to pause our dialog and simply take a moment to contemplate. What made it more special was the fact that weContinue reading “The Woman In the Moon”

            What disservice we place at the feet of others when we lament the passage of time and its dilatory effects on us.  Our lack of understanding allows ageism — the disparate treatment or prejudice against people of particular age groups — to flourish.  It’s not all ill-intended, but it can become habit-forming without us thinking about itContinue reading “The Beauty of Old”

Every year we keep running statistics on the consumption of certain summer foods, in particular, watermelons, cantaloupes, and, believe it or not, rhubarb custard pie. How this began is uncertain, though a major portion of related discussion focused on a ten-point scale with ten representing the highest rating. After some practice we have now becomeContinue reading “On A Scale Of One To Ten”

It was a box that could only have come from a shop overflowing with decades of “I may need that someday.” It’s not a bad mindset to have if we are going to learn to caretake our only planet a little better than we have in the past. Reduce, reuse, and recycle has become theContinue reading “Hidden Treasures In A Box”

Dogs and trucks were made for each other. Some dogs ride in them, others want to chase them. Whatever joy is derived on behalf of the dog, however, is genuine and without artifice. When they ride, they ride with windows down, noses up, and a look in their eye that says life just doesn’t getContinue reading “Dogs, Trucks, and Joyrides From The Heart”

The longest days of summer are nearly here, emphasizing the movement of the season as well as the beauty of their timing. Early mornings or late evening are a delight to get caught up in the colors and textures of the gardens. Sunshine low to the horizon is especially conclusive to backlighting flowers and blooms.Continue reading “Lighting Up The Backstories”

Rains and milder temperatures provided blessings this week. Not everyone was eager to claim them, however, given the accompanying damage attendant to several of the storms. It’s been a year since a derecho storm front rolled through with hail and sustained winds of over seventy miles per hour. Some trees were lost immediately while othersContinue reading “Recovery From The Storm”

The annual spring roundup has begun, not to gather in four-legged critters and such, but to corral the multitude of stray hand tools that survived winter projects only to be misplaced before making their way back into the toolboxes. And what is it that goes missing in the most numbers? Year in and year out,Continue reading “Measuring up”